Table 1

Knowledge and attitudes of medical and nursing students to childhood hearing loss and hearing services in Samoa Study Questionnaire

StatementStrongly agreeAgreeNot sureDisagreeStrongly disagree
1. Hearing loss is not a serious problem in Samoan children.
2. The following conditions will not cause hearing loss in babies:

  • Craniofacial anomalies (eg, Down’s syndrome)

  • Intrauterine infections (eg, CMV, Rubella)

  • Low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg)

  • Neonatal jaundice

  • Neonatal meningitis/seizures

  • Birth asphyxia

3. Aminoglycosides like gentamycin will not harm a baby’s hearing
4. A mother’s exposure to loud noise in pregnancy will not affect a baby’s hearing
5. Babies with hearing loss cannot be accurately detected at birth
6. Babies with hearing loss cannot be helped until they are older
7. Hearing aids are unsuitable for babies
8. Parental suspicion of hearing loss should not influence a clinical opinion
9. Babies can wait until they are older before testing for hearing loss
10. Hearing loss is not that important because it does not kill